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Monday, February 22, 2010

Following the posting on the Central Bureau's unconfirmed-objects webpage about a possible nova in Sco, on February 22.8, 2010 we performed some follow-up of this object remotely through through a 0.40-m, f/3.8 reflector + CCD, from GRAS Observatory (Moorook, Australia).

On our images we can confirm the presence of an optical counterpart with unfiltered CCD magnitude about 10.1 (UCAC2 Catalogue reference stars) at coordinates:

Spectroscopic observations are required to confirm the real nature of this transient.

UPDATE - February 24, 2010

According to Cbet No 2183 this transient in Scorpius has been discovered by Koichi Nishiyama and Fujio Kabashima (Japan) on two 40-s unfiltered CCD frames (limiting magnitude 12.7) taken around Feb. 20.857 UT using a 105-mm f/4 camera lens (+ SBIG STL6303E camera).

On Cbet 2186 (issued on February 23), K. Ayani (BAO) reported that a low-resolution spectrum (range 400-800 nm; resolution 0.5 nm at H-alpha) of the probable nova was obtained with the BAO 1-m telescope on Feb. 23.88 UT. This shows prominent H-alpha emission with P-Cyg absorption upon a red continuum. These features show that the new object is a "Fe II"-type nova. The transient is officially NOVA SCORPII 2010.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

CBET circular No. 2176, issued on February 19, 2010, announces the discovery by Hideo Nishimura (Japan) of a possible nova (mag 9.4) in Ophiuchus on two 13-s frames taken on Feb. 18.845 UT using a Minolta 120-mm f/3.5 lens and a Canon EOS 5D Digital camera.

On our images taken on February 20.5, 2010 through a 0.25-m, f/3,4 reflector +CCD, from GRAS Observatory (near Mayhill, NM), we can confirm the presence of an optical counterpart with unfiltered CCD magnitude about 9.4 (UCAC2 Catalogue reference stars) at coordinates:

Comets & Asteroids news

Welcome to our Astronomy blog, devoted in particular to Comets & Asteroids and related topics. This blog is maintained by Italian amateur astronomer Ernesto Guido, particularly active in the study of the small bodies of the Solar System.